State Public Pensions in Virginia
The Virginia Retirement System administers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for Virginia state employees, teachers, and most local government workers. The benefit payable at a member's death depends on whether the member was active or retired and the payment option the retiree elected. Its defined benefit plans are Plan 1, Plan 2, and the Hybrid Retirement Plan.
Steps to take when someone dies
Required Documents
- Death certificate: An original or certified copy.
- Letter of qualification issued by the Circuit Court: If benefits are payable to the estate. An original or certified letter.
- Trust agreement and appointment of trustee: If benefits are payable to a trust
- Guardianship appointment for the child's estate: If benefits are payable to a minor child
State Public Pensions in Virginia: key facts
What Virginia says6
- Reporting a death
If an active member dies, contact the member's employer first; the employer coordinates the claims.1
For a deceased retiree, Securian Financial, insurer for the VRS Group Life Insurance Program, can initiate all VRS benefit claims and passes the information to VRS for processing.2
- Death before retirement
If an active member dies, the death-in-service benefit is a lump-sum payment of the balance in the member contribution account, if any, to the named beneficiary.1
A beneficiary who is a spouse, minor child, or parent may elect monthly payments instead.1
- Death after retirement
What continues depends on the payout option the retiree elected. The Basic Benefit provides no continuing benefit to a survivor, though the named beneficiary may receive a lump sum of any funds left in the member contribution account.3
Under the Survivor Option, the retiree elected a whole percentage between 10% and 100% of the benefit to continue to the named survivor.3
- Who receives the benefit
Va. Code § 51.1-162 sets the order of precedence when there is no valid beneficiary designation on file or the beneficiary predeceased the member.4
Under § 51.1-162 the order is first the spouse; second the children and descendants of deceased children, per stirpes; third the parents; fourth the duly appointed executor or administrator of the member's estate; fifth other next of kin under the law of the member's domicile at death.4
- Health coverage and life insurance
Under Va. Code § 51.1-511, VRS group life, accidental death, and dismemberment proceeds follow the beneficiary designation, and with no valid designation they follow the same order of precedence as § 51.1-162.5
A group life payment that would otherwise go to the employee's estate may instead be made under the Virginia Small Estate Act (Va. Code §§ 64.2-601, 64.2-602), so full qualification is not always required.5
Life insurance under the VRS Group Life Insurance Program and any VRS Defined Contribution Plan funds are separate benefits, claimed through the same process.2
- Documents to claim
A claim needs the deceased's full name, Social Security number, and date of death, and a mailing address where claim information can be sent.2
Governing law: Va. Code §§ 51.1-162, 51.1-511
Retirement systems1
- Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
State employees, teachers and school division employees, and general employees of participating political subdivisions6, 7
Phone: 1-888-827-3847
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other offices involved3
- Securian Financial
Insurer for the VRS Group Life Insurance Program; can initiate all VRS benefit claims for a deceased retiree2
Phone: 1-800-441-2258
- The member's employer
Coordinates the claims for benefits due when an active member dies1
- Circuit Court
Issues the letter of qualification when benefits are payable to the estate2
Sources7
- 1.Death-in-Service (Virginia Retirement System)
- 2.Losing a Loved One: Guide for Families (Virginia Retirement System), © 10-2025
- 3.Benefit Payout Options (Virginia Retirement System)
- 4.Va. Code § 51.1-162
- 5.Va. Code § 51.1-511
- 6.Virginia Retirement System
- 7.Plan 2: State Employees, Teachers and General Political Subdivision Employees (VRS plan overview)
Virginia public pension benefits
Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
Phone
VRS Defined Contribution Plan accounts
Hours
Website
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Virginia
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Virginia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Virginia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysVa. Code § 64.2-1300Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsVa. Code §§ 64.2-508.1, 64.2-528, 64.2-529, 64.2-550, 64.2-552, 64.2-556Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Virginia automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceVa. Code § 20-111.1; § 6.2-607; § 64.2-632(A)(5); § 64.2-412Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Virginia, a surviving spouse takes the entire estateVa. Code § 64.2-200Verified Sep 10, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationVa. Code § 64.2-202Verified Sep 10, 2026View source.
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